Process and apparatus for filling and sealing small fluid-containers.



J. L. LASCOFF.

PROCESS AND APPARAIUS FOR FlLLlNG AND SEALING SMALL FLUID CONTAINERS- APPLICATION men Aue.2.'|s|s. RENEWED OCT. l6. m1.

1,259,879. Patented Mar. 19, 1913.

,5 la w 12 WITNE88E8 Qqeo n INVENTOR- UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

JAcoB LEo Ascorr, or NEW Yonx, N. 2.; v

rnoo'nssann ArrAa r-Us non FIL I G AND snA INe S ALL rLuln-oonmmnns.

sp cifi i n of L s Patented M31219, 1918.

Application filed August2, 1915, Seria1110.435262. Renewed October 16, 1917. Serial no. 196,976.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB LEON Lasoorr, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of-New. York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Processes I and Apparatus for Filling and Sealing Small Fluid-Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus forfilling and sealing small containers of fluids, especially medicines, as ampoules and soft gelatincapsules, etc.

- The object of the present invention is to simplify the process of filling and sealing such soft gelatin capsules, ampoules, etc.,

that the individual pharmacist is enabled to dispense these containers filled with any solution, a physician may prescribe. The further object of the invention is" to pro vicle a suitable apparatus to carry out the filling and sealing according to my'improved process in a sanitary and expedient manner.

I attain these objects by theapparatus hereinafter described and shown onthe accompanying drawings in which- Figure I is an elevation of my assembled apparatus arranged to fill 'soft'gelatin .capsules, parts of receptacle '1 and disk 11 are "broken away for clearness. v I

Fig. II is a plan of a holder for capsules to be filled, from which plate '11 and sleeve 12are removed.

Fig. III is an elevation .of a similar holder arranged to hold ampoules.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures.

The apparatus consists of a receptacle 1 preferably made of glass on account of its transparency; this receptacle at its upper outer end is provided with a screw thread 1 which holds the screw-cap 2 forming a cover; between the upper edge of receptacle l and the cover 2 a gasket 3 is inserted. Cover 2 is provided with an air-inlet pipe 4: which isc'onnected by a hose 5 to an air pump 6. Into receptacle 1 a stand or holder preferably made of aluminum toaccommodate the soft gelatin capsules 7 or ampoules, 8 whichever are desired to be filled is placed; this holder consists of a circular disk 9 provided'with apertures 9 and is fas' tened to a central stem 10; a second disk 11 rests on a shoulder 10 of the stem concentric with disk 9, a suitable distance above the latter. Disk 11 is fastened to stem 10 by meansof the sleeve 12 whichisslipped over the free upper end of the'steimtheslot 12 engaging pin 10 and preventing withdrawal by the horizontalpart' of the slot'12".

Soft gelatin capsules are generally supshown at 7 with a short neck 7*, noopening for filling in is provided; said opening must be out before the capsule can be'fi-lled and must be sealed after filling Ampoules 8 are small glass receptaclesah tions. After filling, ampoules must 'be sealed by applying the blow-pipe flame to the end .ofthefcaprllary tube. Y Q My improved process of "filling and sealing these small containers is as follows: 7

The holder for the capsules is removed from receptacle 1 and disassembled into its parts, disk 11 andxsleeve .12 are removed from stem 10 and disk 9. I Soft gelatin capsulesar'e inserted into the apertures 9 of disk 19, their neck portionspointing down ward, disk 9 is preferably made of such thickness that the closed endof an unopened capsule protrudes a short distance beyond its lower face. When all holes of disk Q are filled with capsules disk 11 is placed upon them guidedfiby stem 10 and locked in place by means .of a" sleeve 10 and'pin 12. The tip of the small end of all capsulesis now out off preferably by a razor to open them along line A-A and the holder with the capsules is then placed into receptacle 1 which is previously partly filled with the liquid to be filled into the capsules.

receptacle by the air pump 6. The liquid now enters slowly into the capsules and fills them gradually whereby it is possible to adjust the amount held by the capsules. After filling the capsules to the desired extent, the holder with the capsules is quickly Cover 2 is then a closed tightly and the air exhausted from the plied by the manufacturers in the shape removed from the receptacle 1 and reversed that the openings point upward, the operator using 'sleeve12 as a handle. Liquid gelatin is then applied to the openings in the capsules preferably by a small brush, to close them, after which they are removed from their holder and ready for use. The

process for filling ampoules is the'same, with capsules or ampoules according to prescrip tion in the'shortest time, without touching these containers by hand, thereby not disturbing their sterilization. Equal division vof dose is accomplished without extra manipulation. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire, to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of filling soft gelatin capsules consisting in placing a number of empty capsules into a support, locking them therein against any motion relative to each other, inclosing said support in a receptacle and filling said capsules. by rarefying the air in said receptacle.

2. The process of filling and sealing small fluidcontainers, consisting in placing a number of empty containers into a support, their openings directed downward, inclosing said support in a receptacle, containing a liquid to partly submerge the containers and filling said containers by, withdrawing air from said receptacle and closing the openings of said containers while held bysaid support.

3. The process of filling and sealing ampoules consisting of placing a number of empty ampoules into a support, locking themtherein, inclosing said ampoules and support in a receptacle containing a liquid, filling said ampoules by rarefying the air in said receptacle and sealing said ampoules collectively while locked in said support.

4. The process of filling fluid containers consisting in placing a number of empty containers into a holder, securing them therein against any motion relative to each other, inclosing said; holder and containers in a receptacle containing a fluid, the inlet openings of the containers pointing toward the bottom of the receptacle and the fluid port looking a number of containers to-' gether in partly submerged and inverted position, and means to fill said containers by withdrawing air from said receptacle and said containers. 7 In an apparatus for fillingand sealing small fluid containers a support holding a number of said containers in alinement, consistingof a central stem, a disk provided with apertures to hold the neck'part of the containers, a second disk slidably mounted on the stem resting against the bottom part of the containers, and means to fasten said slidable disk to said stem at a fixed distance from the other disk.

8. In an apparatusfor filling small fluid containers support, consisting of a pair of parallel plates adapted to be locked together at a predetermined, fixed distance from each other one of said plates being provided with apertures to accommodate the neck part of said containers, and the other to rest against their bottom part to lock said containers between said plates and prevent their motion relative to each other.

JACOB LEON LASCOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents.

Washington, D. G. 

